Chapter 9: The Name That Should Have Been Impossible
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The name hung in the air like a ghost.
“My uncle?””
Rebecca nodded slowly.
“According to the records.””
“That’s impossible.””
My voice barely came out.
“My uncle died.””
“I know.””
“Then how?””
Rebecca looked at the report again.
“That is what we need to find out.””
My father sat down.
For the first time since arriving, he looked old.
Not tired.
Broken.
“You don’t understand.””
I looked at him.
“Then explain.””
He stared at the table.
“Your uncle wasn’t supposed to be involved.””
“Why?””
“Because he was the reason your grandmother created the trust protections.””
I frowned.
“My own uncle?””
My father nodded.
“He tried to sell family information years ago.””
The room became colder.
I thought I knew betrayal.
I didn’t.
Not until that moment.
Rebecca placed the report in front of me.
“The name appears on an encrypted file.””
I looked down.
There were dates.
Messages.
Transactions.
And one detail that made my stomach turn.
The latest activity was from three months ago.
“Three months ago?””
Rebecca nodded.
“Someone using his identity contacted Ethan.””
I looked at Ethan.
His face was pale.
“You knew?””
He didn’t answer.
That was all I needed.
“You knew someone was pretending to be my dead uncle.””
“I wasn’t sure.””
“You weren’t sure?””
I raised my voice.
“You were investigating my family, and you found someone using my dead uncle’s identity, and you said nothing?””
Ethan looked desperate.
“I was trying to figure it out.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You were trying to protect yourself.””
He looked hurt.
But I no longer cared.
Because every time I gave him a chance, he chose himself.
My father stood.
“There’s something you need to know about your uncle.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“He wasn’t just involved with the trust.””
He hesitated.
“He was involved with Ethan’s father.””
I closed my eyes.
Another connection.
Another secret.
Another piece of my life that everyone knew except me.
“Why?””
My father looked at Ethan.
“Because they both wanted the same thing.””
“The trust?””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Control over the company attached to it.””
Rebecca nodded.
“That’s why the money was never the main issue.””
I stared at the documents.
All those years.
I thought Ethan wanted comfort.
A nicer house.
A better lifestyle.
But maybe he wanted something much bigger.
The front door suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
A man stood outside.
Older.
Wearing a dark coat.
His eyes immediately found mine.
My father stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
The man smiled slightly.
“That depends.””
Nobody moved.
“On what?”” Rebecca asked.
The man looked at me.
“On whether Claire wants the truth.””
My heart raced.
“Who are you?””
He reached into his coat.
Everyone tensed.
But he only pulled out an old envelope.
Then he held it toward me.
“This belonged to your grandmother.””
I didn’t move.
“How do you have that?””
The man looked at Ethan.
“Because your husband paid me to find it.””
The room exploded.
“What?””
I turned toward Ethan.
His face lost all color.
“I can explain.””
The stranger continued.
“He told me he needed the original trust documents.””
My voice shook.
“Why?””
The man looked at me.
“Because he believed your grandmother hid something from you.””
I stared at Ethan.
“What?””
The man handed me the envelope.
“Open it.””
My hands trembled as I broke the seal.
Inside was a single page.
Only a few sentences.
But the first line made my blood run cold.
“Claire, if you are reading this, then Ethan has already found the secret I buried.””
I looked up.
Ethan was staring at the letter.
Terrified.
Because he knew something I didn’t.
I read the next sentence.
And suddenly understood why everyone had been afraid of the past.
“Your husband is not the first person who tried to steal from this family.””
I turned the page.
The final sentence was waiting.
“And he will not be the last.””
I looked at Ethan.
“Who else is coming?””
He didn’t answer.
May you like
Because at that exact moment…
The lights in the house went out.
